American Beauty [Digipak]

Performer: Grateful Dead
Artist: David Grisman; New Riders Of The Purple Sage
Producer: Grateful Dead; Steve Barncard; James Austin (Reissue); Peter McQuaid (Reissue)
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Grateful Dead: Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir (guitar); Ron "Pigpen" McKernan (harmonica); Phil Lesh (bass guitar); Bill Kreutzmann (drums); Mickey Hart (percussion). Additional personnel: David Nelson (electric guitar); David Grisman (mandolin); Ned Lagin (piano); Howard Wales (organ); Dave Torbert (bass guitar); New Riders of the Purple Sage. A companion piece to the luminous Workingman's Dead, American Beauty is an even stronger document of the Grateful Dead's return to their musical roots. Sporting a more full-bodied and intricate sound than its predecessor thanks to the addition of subtle electric textures, the record is also more representative of the group as a collective unit, allowing for stunning contributions from Phil Lesh (the poignant opener, "Box of Rain") and Bob Weir ("Sugar Magnolia"); at the top of his game as well is Jerry Garcia, who delivers the superb "Friend of the Devil," "Candyman," and "Ripple." Climaxing with the perennial "Truckin'," American Beauty remains the Dead's studio masterpiece -- never again would they be so musically focused or so emotionally direct. ~ Jason Ankeny AMERICAN BEAUTY was an instant classic when it was first released November of 1970. It is among the most satisfying and enduring of the Grateful Dead's studio recordings, expanding as it does on the engaging mix of country, blues, and folk materials they first coined earlier in the year with WORKINGMAN'S DEAD. The musical vision of the Dead is more sharply focused on AMERICAN BEAUTY--from the serene reflection and compassion of the opening "Box Of Rain" and the earthy mysticism of "Ripple," to the sensual rock of "Sugar Magnolia" and the anthemic proto-boogie of the closing "Truckin'." But then, every tune on AMERICAN BEAUTY has attained a classic resonance, both from decades of steady airplay, and the way the Dead seemed to continually revive these popular standards for their concert repertoire. Also available with WORKINGMAN'S DEAD on one cassette.

Rolling Stone (12/24/70, p.52) - "...the album is American beauty of the best possible kind....A complete contentment shines through the vocal work....The instrumentation is rich with sound that moves through, under and into the listener..." Mojo (Publisher) (p.153) - "It's a near perfect set of songs, most becoming mainstays of their repertoire."

The Grateful Dead were right there at the birth of the 1960s West Coast psychedelic scene, but they handily incorporated simple folk, blues, and country sounds into their swirling, jam-oriented style. With an endless touring schedule and a huge following of devoted fans, the group fueled hippie visions well into the '90s and sparked the jam-band movement that would eventually fill the void left by the dearly departed Grateful Dead after the passing of guitarist Jerry Garcia. Since Garcia's passing, surviving members of the band have participated in various musical projects, including a reunion tour in 2003 under the shortened name of "the Dead."

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